2006-2007 Niger Water Project

The twenty-four Rotary Districts of Zones 29 and 30 decided to work together in the 2006-2007 Rotary year to fund a dairy project in Romania and a water project in Niger.  At the time of this project, the country of Niger was considered by the United Nations to be the poorest country in the world. An article about Niger was featured in The Rotarian magazine focusing on the efforts of the 2005-2006 District Governor to start new Rotary clubs in Niger and sponsor several Matching Grants. We contacted Past District Governor Laurence Kouassi who put us in touch with District 9100 Water Resources Chairman Nicholas Mancus. Chairman Mancus told us about a water tower project needed in a rural Niger - a project in partnership with the Peace Corps. We soon found ourselves partnering with the brand new Rotary Club of Niamey-Gaweye and other Niger Rotarians such as Gaston Kaba of the Rotary Club of Niamey-Croix-du-Sud. The village of Guidan Bako Chawaye in the Maradi region of Niger was identified as needing a water tower, pump and generator. There were two sources of water in the village but the women of the village spent a huge amount of time gathering the water using a foot pump from one source. The second water supply was driven by oxen, whose waste products ended up contaminating the water, making the villages, especially children, sick. A Peace Corps volunteer serving the village of Guidan Bako Chawaye worked with the villagers and the Rotarians in designing the project. Host partner club was the Rotary Club of Niamey-Gaweye, Niger, D9100.  International partner club was the Rotary Club of Topeka, Kansas, D5710. Additional funding came from 17 districts of Rotary Zones 29 and 30 and also from District 9100. Project size was $37,000. The application was filed on December 19, 2006 and approved by The Rotary Foundation on January 15, 2007. Funds arrived in April and work began immediately. All the work was completed by October 2007 and the Final Report was filed shortly after that. The Rotary Foundation certified the project as closed in January 2008. The August 2008 issue of The Rotarian magazine featured an article about the Peace Corps and its many links to Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation. Attached is a portion of that article featuring Rotarian Gaston Kaba, head of the Peace Corps in Niger, and the several Matching Grant projects that clubs in his region have completed utilizing the supervision of local Peace Corps volunteers.

Peace Corps Volunteer working with villagers from Guidan Bako Chaweye.

Foundation for the water tank tower is being prepared.

Concrete and mortar are being mixed.

The foundation for the "engine house" where the generator that will power the pump will be located.

The walls of the engine house are raised.

The supporting structure for the water tank is constructed off site.

The water tank itself is ready to be transported to the village

Project dedication day arrives.

Villagers gather to welcome Rotarians and WATER!!

The first drops of water come from the pipes.

Three such "water fountains" were installed around the village

A very auspicious sight, as a rainbow appears over the water tank on dedication day.